My recent reading list

Here are some of the books I have read or have tried to read in the past six months or so. Starting with 'Interview with the Vampire' by Anne Rice. I must admit upfront, that I would never have read this book had it not been for the book club I am in. It was at times a bit of a slog and it definitely wasn't my type of book, but I did finish it. Basically it's about a vampire and the life he has lead. There is biting involved.

I also read 'The Good Soldier Schweik' by Jaroslav Hasek. This is a Czech writer who wrote this book/story almost contemporary to the period in the book, ie World War I. It follows the life and adventures of Schweik, who ends up as a soldier in the Austrian/Hungarian army somewhere. It was originally written as short stories and combined eventually to a book. Which probably makes for the similar stories all the time. It was a good read though, as it gave a bit of insight as to how the author at least saw the war going. The book is also on the world literature list I believe.

I tried to read 'Hotel New Hampshire' by John Irving. I remember reading it while in high school and loving it. But this time around I hated it. I could not like the characters in it and after only a chapter or so, I gave it up. I think that all the things that were good back in high school (sex, anarchy etc) were now things that weren't nice to read about at all. 

This year I started with 'A Robot in the Garden' by Deborah Install. A lovely book set in the near future where androids are normal in every day life. And then one day Ben finds a robot (a big step down from an android) in his garden and wants to get it fixed. The book follows his journey with the robot (called Tang) as they go on a trip around the world. After a slow start, I really got into this book. At times it was funny, at times it was disturbing, at times it was thought provoking. Well worth the read.

Then I continued with an author I had managed to avoid all throughout my time in Norway. But book club you know and I started reading 'Knife (Harry Hole #12)' by Jo Nesbø. I soon realised I had been right to avoid. Perhaps it was because it was already part 12 of the series about this murder detective Harry Hole, perhaps it was just the gruesomeness of some of it. Whatever it was though: a few chapters in, I quit. Not for me thank you. 

'Dinner at Rose's' by Danielle Hawkins was my next read. It was sort of a romcom. Well, no, it was a romcom. Set in New Zealand, Jo moves back home from Australia after she catches her boyfriend with her best friend. Finding a job in the place she grew up, she meets up with her old friend Matthew, her honorary aunt Rose and several others. Then Rose becomes ill. I found this book an easy read. Nothing too strenuous for the mind, nothing too gory or gruesome and a happy ending?

Right now I am reading 'Anxious People' by Fredrik Backman. I have loved previous books by him, most notably A Man Called Ove which has me in tears each time I read it, this one however is a bit more of a struggle. I will finish it though.

Library at Wimpole Hall

After this there are several others waiting on my Kindle: The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman by Julietta Henderson; The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin; The Phone Box at the End of the Earth by Laura Imai Messina; How To Be A Victorian by Ruth Goodman; House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland; Dancing By The Light Of The Moon by Gyles Brandreth (collection of poems); The Guest Cat by Takashi Hiraide.